The 45-year-old pilot was the sole occupant of the helicopter and had to be winched from the difficult terrain.

He was taken to Canberra Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition with head and spinal injuries.

Footage has emerged revealing the tattered remains of the chopper.

Exclusive footage reveals the state the helicopter was in after it crashed. Picture: Seven NewsSource:Channel 7

The pilot is a well-known figure with a history of selfless acts.Source:Channel 7

The UH-1H helicopter — built in 1965 — is operated by O’Driscoll Aviation, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority database confirms. It’s used for heavy lifting and also waterbombing operations.

O’Driscoll was in the same vehicle just last weekend putting out fires across homes in southwest Sydney.

The pilot is a well-known figure who has been hailed as a hero since 2005, when another devastating chopper crash left him with severe burn scars on his face.

The chopper he’d been flying suffered engine failure. After the incident, it was revealed that O’Driscoll had made a split-second decision to fly upwards before the chopper hit the ground, in order to keep others out of harm’s way.

This selfless act came at a severe cost — he lost control of the plane, which flipped and went down a mountainside before exploding into flames, and suffered severe burns to much of his body, including his face, arms and hands.